Ensure you take steps to lessen the risks of inappropriate entries.
Get parental permission. Make sure to include a clear definition of the educational benefit of the teacher's blog, sample topics, and how the student's blog entries might be considered a graded activity
Know your school and district acceptable use policies and convey them to your students.
Make students aware of what subject matter is appropriate and permissible.
Teach students the importance of tone and respect for others' opinions.
Have clear expectations, rules, and consequences.
Keep a clear instructional focus for the blog.
Create alternative assignments for students who do not have permission to blog.
Start with a short blog topic with some pre-teaching on rules of use.
Encourage the exchange of "intellectual" ideas, and model the use of "educational/professional" vocabulary.
Model respectful disagreement.
Only allow first name usage in order to protect student identity from outsiders.
Have students sign a blog contract,
Student Responsibilities
Blog Smart, follow common sense rules of rules of using the internet.
Use first names only.
Do not gang up on other bloggers.
Do not use destructive criticism.
Do not post personal information.
Do not leave website to chat with strangers.
Take responsibility for anything posted in your name.
Do not plagiarize.
Do not spam
Use appropriate spelling.
Stay on topic.
Be aware of consequences for breaking the blog contract.
Teacher Responsibilities - Michelle & Nancy
Teacher Responsibilities:
- Ensure you take steps to lessen the risks of inappropriate entries.
- Get parental permission. Make sure to include a clear definition of the educational benefit of the teacher's blog, sample topics, and how the student's blog entries might be considered a graded activity
- Know your school and district acceptable use policies and convey them to your students.
- Make students aware of what subject matter is appropriate and permissible.
- Teach students the importance of tone and respect for others' opinions.
- Have clear expectations, rules, and consequences.
- Keep a clear instructional focus for the blog.
- Create alternative assignments for students who do not have permission to blog.
- Start with a short blog topic with some pre-teaching on rules of use.
- Encourage the exchange of "intellectual" ideas, and model the use of "educational/professional" vocabulary.
- Model respectful disagreement.
- Only allow first name usage in order to protect student identity from outsiders.
- Have students sign a blog contract,
Student Responsibilities